What tires do I need?

ASK IRA: Do Heat need to kick the tires with Mike Miller?

March 9, 2016 – 02:35 pm

To jump on this, at what will likely be the minimum. I don'Chalmers McRobertsWe need a wing shooter we can count on more than having to rely on production from multiple young players. Mike Miller was misused last year, one of many on that Cavs team. He played all 82 games the year before in Memphis. He obviously would fill our need, while still keeping those young guys on the roster. - Zach, Miami Beach.

A: A few things: One of the major problems for the Heat last season was the inability to keep veterans on the court. So the health (and age) issue has to be studied. Beyond that, the best use of Miller at this stage of his career could be as a fifth wing, behind Luol Deng, Justise Winslow, Dwyane Wade and Gerald Green. After being buried on the Cavaliers' bench, that might not be the type of role Miller envisions. Then there is the argument of youth vs. experience. If Miller takes a roster spot, it likely would be at the expense of a James Ennis or possibly even a Greg Whittington. And if you are going to consider a Miller, then do you also have to go back and consider a Dorell Wright?

Q: So trading a couple of third-string players for nothing in return will save the Heat about $11 million. Wonderful! Heat fans shouldn't lose sleep over either player departing. But can these be the last purely cost-cutting moves? If we trade Mario Chalmers, we would need to add a solid backup point guard to replace him. If we trade Chris Andersen, we would need another big man, in case our previously injured frontcourt players become often-injured front players. Ditto if we trade Josh McRoberts. Will the Heat front office really keep cost-cutting at the risk of gutting our bench? - Abel, Miami.

A: I agree that the departures of Shabazz Napier and Zoran Dragic hardly impact the core of the roster. But I also agree that any further cuts could create deficits in the rotation. Yes, you could possibly get an Andre Miller at the minimum to step in for Chalmers in a tax-cutting move, or even a Carlos Boozer as a replacement in the power rotation. But you also would be downgrading the overall product in the name of tax savings.

A: Or you could look at it that they gave him, and themselves, every chance to make it work. I can tell you that Dan Craig worked with Shabazz during the summer league in a fashion of trying to get Napier ready for the coming season. This was not a case of the coaching staff bailing on Shabazz's possibilities.

The Colt Runabout was an American brass era automobile, built in Yonkers, New York, in 1907 by a man named William Mason Turner.
It was a two-seater, with the long hood and short tail (where a pair of spare tires were mounted) characteristic of the period, and weighing in at only 1800 lb (816 kg). It was priced at US$1500, compared to US$650...